Beware of Darkness Review by Gary Hill The leanings on this album are widespread (Neil Young, Yes, Beatles, King Crimson), and the changes are so fast as to be difficult to keep track of at times.
Day for Night is the fourth studio album from Spock`s Beard. The album is a departure from their earlier albums in that shorter numbers has replaced the fifteen-minute suites.
Feel Euphoria Review by Steve Alspach Well, it isn't the Spock's Beard that we've all grown accustomed to. With Neal Morse's departure, the band bares little semblance to it's old self, but that's not to say that the band hasn't lost its edge.
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Live Review by Gary Hill I have to admit, I haven’t seen Spock’s Beard live since the departure of Neal Morse. While this wasn’t a conscious decision, I have to admit to some trepidation about how the band would sound without their former front man.
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The parallels are amazing. A band, noticed for its work in progressive rock, releases for its sixth album an epic tale of a young man making his way in the world, only to have the band's lead singer surprisingly pack it in and leave the band.
Spock's Beard Review by Julie Knispel Spock’s Beard needs no introduction, as they are one of the highest profile American prog bands of the past 15 years..
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The fifth album from Spock's Beard shows them to be at the forefront of current progressive music. In this album the band is able to play exciting, adventurous music without ever becoming self-indulgent or pompous.
I’ve followed Spock’s Beard for quite some time and have always enjoyed their music. From the start they’ve had a great ability to merge more pop oriented sounds with pure progressive rock.
Spock's Beard - Live DVD Review by Gary Hill I remember when I heard Spock’s Beard for the first time way back when I wasn’t really blown away by them. Mind you, I enjoyed their CD’s enough, but they just didn’t seem to have any “magic” to them.
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Who says progressive rock can't be serious and showcase a spirit of fun at the same time? Obviously anyone who says that has never seen Spock's Beard live.
Spock's Beard - Live at RoSFest, April, 2007 Review by Josh Turner Spock’s Beard was the ideal festival closer. After taking an exorbitant amount of time tuning up and an extensive raffle that proved little to no winners, this wick was lit and the act was underway.
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Spock's Beard - Live in Chicago IL, August, 2000 Review by Steve Alspach Opening for Dream Theater, Spock's Beard played a surprisingly short set. With their new album, "V" due out shortly, one would think that the band would have played a few songs from that album, but it wasn't to be.
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Spock's Beard - Live in Quebec City, July, 2007 Review by Sonya Kukcinovich Hill Spock's Beard has drawn many musical comparisons through the years, most often to progressive giants early Genesis and Yes. Indeed, Dave Meros' Rickenbacker sound is frighteningly close to Yes' Chris Squire, especially his sophisticated use of counterpoint in advanced rhythmic passages.
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Interviews
Spock's Beard Interview by Sonya Kukcinovich Hill Interview with Dave Meros of Spock's Beard - December 2007
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Spock's Beard Interview by Gary Hill Interview with Dave Meros and Alan Morse of Spock's Beard
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Spock's Beard Interview by Gary Hill Interview with Spock's Beard's Dave Meros From 2008
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Spock's Beard Interview by Gary Hill, Alison Reijman and Greg Olma
Interview with Dave Meros and Alan Morse of Spock’s Beard from 2012
Neal Morse - ? Review by Josh Turner He did everything I would have asked of him and a whole lot more. This is his best album out of his most recent batches and one that rivals all the best from the year.
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Enchant - A Blueprint of the World Review by Gary Hill Although, perhaps more progressive than metal, this album still seems to fit fairly well into this category. The musicianship and song writing on this disc are quite accomplished.
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Enchant - Blink of An Eye Review by Gary Hill Fans of modern neo prog will surely like this disc. There’s not a bad song on the set. More...
K2 - Book of the Dead Review by Josh Turner With an Egyptian on the cover, you'd expect something from The Bangles. However, this is much more progressive in nature.
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Enchant - Break Review by Gary Hill With Break Enchant have created a concept album that is both personal and universal. Such a dichotomy is appropriate for this band, as they seem to be experts at dual natured concepts. More...
Genesis - Calling All Stations Review by Gary Hill This album has been causing as much controversy among Genesis fans as Open Your Eyes has among Yes fans. Again many really like the album, while others hate it.
Ryo Okumoto - Coming Through Review by Lorraine Kay One of the most sought-after musicians in the prog-rock scene and then some, keyboardist Ryo Okumoto has earned a global reputation performing with some of the biggest names in music, including Kitaro, Natalie Cole, Phil Collins, Aretha Franklin, and Roberta Flack.
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Steve Thorne is one of the great unsung British prog heroes, a veritable one man band who has released a series of consistently well-crafted and thought-provoking solo albums, Crimes & Reasons being his fourth.
Mike Keneally - Dog Review by Josh Turner Nick D' Virgilio says he's done his best drumming on this album. With so much great material to date, it is hard to validate a statement such as this one.
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Steve Thorne - Emotional Creatures - Part One Review by Gary Hill What a pleasant surprise this album is! I had never really heard of Steve Thorne before, but you can bet after this one I'll be keeping track on him.
Flying Colors, for once in a long time prove that rock music can still be everything it's supposed to be in a landscape that constantly attempts to limit it.
Alan Morse - four o'clock and hysteria Review by Gary Hill When I popped this CD in I was kind of expecting something that would sound like Morse's band Spock's Beard. Had I read the press materials that came with, I would have realized that the ride in store was different, but I usually prefer to give first impressions the chance to sink in before clouding them with words written about the disc.
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On the one hand, Nick D'Virgilio has been out of Spock's Beard for a while now. That means that perhaps the mentions of the band and comparisons aren't entirely appropriate.
Neal Morse - It's Not Too Late Review by Steve Alspach Neal Morse is showing that there are two sides to his musical persona - one as the leader of Spock's Beard, but another that shows that he is at home writing well-crafted rock numbers.
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Enchant - Juggling 9 or Dropping 10 Review by Steve Alspach You know when you're in Europe when even the little record shop at the airport has a Prog section. Duly impressed, I took a chance on this band based on the interesting album title alone. More...
Nick D' Virgilio - Karma Review by Gary Hill Nick D' Virgilio, the drummer best known for his work with Spock's Beard, but he also served as the drummer on part of Genesis' single post Phil Collins disc.
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This brand new release from Neal Morse finds him moving from his usual Christian lyrical territory into slice of life stories that seem poignant and personal. Musically he creates sounds that are among the most mainstream and pop-rock based of his career.
Transatlantic - Live in America Review by Steve Alspach It takes cajones to record an album consisting of your fifth or sixth performance ever as a band. But if you're as talented as the guys in Transatlantic, nerves are perhaps the only problem.
Having not followed Neal Morse’s post Spock’s Beard and TransAtlantic career, you could imagine my surprise when I learned that Neal Morse has redirected his amazing musical talents towards promoting God’s word, “Prog Style.”
Ryo Okumoto - Live in N. Hollywood, CA, July 2006 Review by Lorraine Kay As if he doesn't already have a full plate, Spock's Beard keyboardist Ryo Okumoto has added to his list of things to do - "build a new band and call it Code Red."
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In 2015 Neal Morse put together Morsefest. It was a two night event. On one night of the show, he performed his ? album, while the second night they did Solo Scriptura.
Neal Morse - Neal Morse Review by Steve Alspach On "Day for Night," Spock's Beard songwriter, frontman, and head whisker Neal Morse said that he wanted to put emphasis on the songs rather than the long suites so prevalent on their first few albums.
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Neal Morse - One Review by Josh Turner While Testimony is spoken in the first person, One is in the third. Neal has the knack for relaying meaning through song. He tells a smooth flowing story, yet it's nowhere near a monologue.
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Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura Review by Josh Turner This album is outstanding. If there was any stronger word to use in its place, I’d have chosen that instead to sanction my approval.
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Transatlantic - STMPE Review by Gary Hill and Steve Alspach When you talk progressive rock and the term "supergroup" comes up, this band will certainly come to mind. The band is made up of Roine Stolt of Flower Kings, Pete Trewavas of Marillion, Neal Morse of Spocks Beard and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater.
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Various Artists - Supper`s Ready Review by Gary Hill A tribute album devoted to the music of Genesis, Supper`s Ready is a strong work. The renditions here stay more true to the original performances than on some similar albums, but this does not take away from the relevance of the CD.
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Various Artists - Tales From Yesterday Review by Gary Hill A tribute to the music of Yes, Tales From Yesterday, features some very fine renditions of Yessongs performed by a variety of artists (including several past and present members of Yes). This is a mixed bag. Some of the tracks are quite faithful to the original, while others represent major reworkings.
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Neal Morse - Testimony Review by Steve Alspach Neal Morse's first post-Spock's Beard album is a big pill to swallow - over two hours' worth of music that document Morse's conversion to Christianity.
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What is life? Are we just pawns in someone’s game of chess? These are just two of the life mystery questions posed in the epic album, The Suffering Joy, by Norwegian progressive rock band, Magic Pie.
Neal Morse - Testimony DVD Review by Josh Turner If there is one music DVD to get this year, I have the one for you. There is no doubt in my mind that I would choose Neal Morse: Testimony Live as DVD of the year.
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Transatlantic - The Bridge Across Forever Review by Steve Alspach Prog's premier supergroup (Neal Morse, Roine Stolt, Mike Portnoy, and Pete Trewavas) strike again with this 2001 release. This album sounds similar to their first effort, but there are many differences that set this album apart.
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Big Big Train - The Difference Engine Review by Gary Hill This latest disc from Big Big Train is a fine example of how an artist can combine classic progressive rock sounds with more modern textures in a mélange that, while nodding to the music of others is as a whole something unique.
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In a snap, Neal Morse took center stage behind his keyboards with an arsenal of guitars in tow. Modeled after most of his creations, the music began with an overture.
This band seem to be very pumped, and it could be coincided with the Morsefest coming on, as announcements have been going out about it while NMB are on tour.
The album, "Similitude to a Dream," is nearly two hours of seamlessly integrated music. The Neal Morse Band played it in its entirety with a single intermission where the discs split.
Enchant - Tug Of War Review by Greg Olma I just recently discovered Enchant. How they have been able to fly under my prog radar for so many years, I'll never know. More...
Ted Leonard - Way Home Review by Sonya Kukcinovich Hill I have been aware of the west coast prog band called Enchant, but in the myriad of things heard and unheard I have simply not been familiar with their personnel nor their material. I'm certain that will change now that I have become familiar with lead vocalist Ted Leonard and his recently released solo Christian project entitled "Way Home."
Transatlantic - Whirld Tour 2010 Deluxe Edition – 2 DVD & 3 CD Review by Scott Montgomery This is ridiculous!Really!The degree of virtuosity, complexity, and sheer stamina involved in performing this music live is staggering…almost to the point of absurdity.